Sports

.the Super Eagles defender is campaigning in partnership with the END Fund and Common Goal

LAGOS, Nigeria, December, 3rd, 2019 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Nigeria national team defender William Ekong has started a campaign to draw attention to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect more than 120 million Nigerians. In partnership with the END Fund and Common Goal, William appears in a public service announcement where he calls on affected Nigerians to seek free treatment.
Neglected tropical diseases are a group of parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases that affect more than 1.7 billion of the world’s most impoverished people, including 1 billion children. They include intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (bilharzia), river blindness, trachoma, and lymphatic filariasis.

Translated in pidgin, the public service announcement sheds light on how NTDs affect all aspects of life. Thus, calling upon Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing mass administration of medication (MAM) efforts being led by community health workers all throughout the country.

Please visit your local health center for more information on how to get treatment in your local government area in Nigeria.

*AMA

By James Mwala

World football governing body FIFA President Gianni Infantino was forced to cancel his trip to Malawi over the poor state of one of the airports his plane was supposed to land today.

The FiFA leader was supposed to arrive in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe via the Kamuzu International Airport before connecting to Chileka Airport in Blantyre.

But according to the Football Association of Malawi, the cancellation followed an inspection that the FIFA Aviation team carried at Chileka Airport where there are rehabilitation works.

 ‘’ After carrying out a full assessment of the secondary runway, FIFA Aviation at the last minute ruled that they couldn’t take a chance to land at Chileka Airport for safety reasons.  Alternative efforts to have the plane land at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and use other means to transport the delegation to Blantyre were not successful due to the tight schedule of the FIFA President who was expected to arrive in the country at 2pm and leave at 7pm for Democratic Republic of Congo. ‘’a statement from FAM reads.

The football association has since said that it is closely collaborating with FIFA on rescheduling the visit to an earliest convenient date.

During his planned visit said to last for at least four hours, he was slated to launch the Mpira Stadium in Blantyre which was built under FIFA football development projects.

His trip was argued by sports commentators as meant to support the bid of FAM President Walter Nyamilandu, a FIFA Council member who is also seeking re-election for the FA in a poll next month.

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Sierra Leone’s Football Association (SLFA) has appointed Technical teams for the 2019 ECOWAS Games in Nigeria.

According to the release from the FA, through its technical department has appointed the following coaches for the National U-17 male and female football teams ahead of the 2019 Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Games slated for December in Ogun State, Nigeria.

“National U -17 technical team (male), Head Coach- Chernoh Mansaray,

Assistant Coach 1- Raymond S. Lewis, Assistant Coach 2- Abdul Bangura (German)

Goalkeeper Coach- Habib Kamara,’’ the release reads.

The release added that for the National U-17 technical team (female) Head Coach is Alhaji Foray, Assistant Coach 1- Alimu Koroma (System), and Assistant Coach 2- Regina Hamilton

According to the FA , the new appointees are expected to start training their respective teams by Monday 25^th November 2019.

Didier Drogba says he turned down a coaching job at Chelsea because he wanted to work on football development in his home country.

According to Metro, Didier Drogba turned down the opportunity to become part of the coaching team at Stamford Bridge in order to run for the position of president of the Ivory Coast Football Federation.

The 41-year-old Chelsea legend, who retired as a player late last year, has been canvassing support for his bid to take charge of the federation and admitted in a meeting in Abidjan that he opted to go for the job instead of returning to west London.

‘I had an offer to stay at Chelsea where everything would be perfect and conditions are met, but I want to help Ivorian football because I love it!’ said the former Ivory Coast captain.

‘I am a leader, and my vision is bigger than just the simple role of being a coach.

‘A coach has an impact on a club – but I want to have an impact on an entire nation. I want us to re-think football, with a nationwide vision, so we can develop the game here.

‘The Ivory Coast has a glorious footballing past. The funds are in place, together with talent and potential, but they are under-exploited.

‘There are some very competent people in the Ivory Coast who can work with me on this project.’

*Source Chelsea

By Bakary Ceesay

Gambia Scorpions are back in contention for a place at the Total Africa Cup of Nations 2021 in Cameroon as they prepare for the opening of qualifying campaign when they face off Angola’s Palancas Negras on Wednesday 13th November, 2019 in Luanda.

Having named his final list of Scorpions Squad for both the away and home legs, Head Coach Tom Saintfiet is never short of confidence on his charges. “I think we have a strong squad, there are lot of choices for me as a coach to make. We have lot of good players, and I’m sure we will be ready to make it difficult for our opponents and gain some points”, he said shortly before flying out to Luanda.

The Belgian added though that he expect very difficult games but believe his team can cope with the pressure of being the underdogs. “We are playing out against two strong opponents Angola and DR Congo. We are 166 on the FIFA Ranking, Angola is 120 and DR Congo is 54″.

He said both teams are usual participants at the Afcon, however ” We have learnt a lot from our previous games against Angola and Djibouti because we saw some strength and qualities of our players”.

Reacting to Gambia’s home games, the ‘Saint” posited that the Scorpions deserve more hence ” we will be the favorites in Banjul and so we have to believe in ourselves and get something in Angola in the first and away leg although naturally they too will be the favorites to play at home”.

He said DR Congo game at home in the Gambia could be the Gambia’s best game to collect maximum points. The Belgian tactician noted that been underdogs in the Group does not mean that the Gambia cannot push further.

The game will be amongst a host of Qualifiers on the continent and the Gambia will open its campaign to Angola on Wednesday 13th November 2019 at the 11th November Stadium in Luanda at 20:00hrs (19:00hrs ) in Banjul.

By Bakary Ceesay

Sainey Jawo and Mbye Babou Jarra are preparing to represent Gambia in their first ever world beach volleyball appearance when the FIVB (Federation of International Volleyball) World Tour one star commonly call Aspire beach volleyball cup competition serve off from November 12, through November 15th in Doha, Qatar.

With $5,000 in prize money, the Gambians will be facing one of the top class beach volleyball kings around the world, Qatar’s Cherif Younousse Samba and Ahmed Tijan will be the top-seeded team in November’s Aspire Beach Volleyball Cup as the host country pair is currently ranked 13th on the FIVB World Tour and ninth on the provisional Olympic ranking lists.

However these big names do not trouble the Gambian captain Sainey Jawo who believe they can shock the world as they did in Rabat.

“We have train so hard for this and we can make another history because we are hungry for more victories”  Jawo said.

“We are young and energetic, so we have all the opportunity to excel and become giant killers, so watch the space the tall lanky African Games gold winner,” he stated.

After the World Tour, the pair will also represent Gambia in the 2020 Olympics beach volleyball qualifiers when Banjul host the Pool B of Zone II qualifications later this month.

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

The head coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon Antonio Conceiçao has made public a list of 28 players that will represent Cameroon in their next outing in the qualifiers for the AFCON 2021.

Cameroon will face Cape Verde on the 13 of November 2019 and face Rwanda on the 17 of November 2019.

The list of players called up includes the usual suspects while Vincent Aboubakar is making his return back to the squad. The player missed Cameroon’s last outing which was a friendly encounter with their Tunisian counterpart due to injury. During that game in Tunisia, both sides ended goalless, in what was the first outing for the new head coach of the Cameroonian national team. 

Equally returning to the squad, though on the waiting list is Buea born Clinton Nji. The player has been having a renaissance in Russia after he signed for Dynamo Moscow. He scored his first goal for Dynamo on 27 October 2019, a late winner in a 1–0 victory over PFC CSKA Moscow.  

The Minister of Sports and Physical Education confirmed Portuguese born coach António Conceição da Silva Oliveira popularly known as Toni Conceição as Heach coach of the Indomitable Lions until the 2021 AFCON tournament. The former Portuguese International right back replaces Clarence Seedorf who was sacked after this year’s AFCON in Egypt.

The Portuguese who is having his first experience as a national team coach and the first in the African continent will be assisted by Ex-Cameroon internationals François Oman Biyik, Jacques Songo’o as goalkeeper coach and team Doctor Professor William Ngatchou.

GOALKEEPERS:
– Andre Onana-Ajax Amsterdam-Netherlands

Fabrice Ondoa-KV Ostende-Belgium

– Haschou Kerrido-CK Kamsar-Guinea

DEFENDERS:
– Jean Charles Castelleto-Stade Brestois – France

– Fai Collins Ngoran-Standard-Belgium

– Michael Ngadeu-Gent-Belgium

Ambroise Oyongo-Montpellier-France

– Jerome Onguene-RB Salzburg-Austria

– Dawa Joyskim-Mariupol-Ukraine

MIDFIELDERS:

– Pierre Kunde Malong-Mainz-Germany

– Djoum Arnaud-Al Read-Saudi Arabia

– Bombock Franck-Maritimo-Portugal

– Andre Franck Zambo-Villarreal-Spain

– Olinga Fabrice-Royal Mouscron-Belgium

FORWARDS:

– Toko Karl Ekambi-Villarreal-Spain

– Aboubakar Vincent-FC Porto-Portugal

– Moumie Ngamaleu-Young Boys-Switzerland

– Jean Pierre Nsame-Young Boys-Switzerland

– Didier Lamkel Ze-Antwerp-Belgium

– Ganago Ignatius-OGC Nice-France

– Bassogog Christian-Hernan Jianye-China

– Choupo-Moting-PSG-France

WAITING LIST:

– Moukoudi Harold – St Etienne – France

– Ntcham Olivier – Celtic – Ekosse

– Fuchs Jeando – Maccabi Haifa – Israel

– Njie Clinton – Dynamo Moscow – Russia

– Stephane Bahoken – SCO Angers – France

By Bakary Ceesay

Former Gambia international female player Veronic Malack is the latest employee to join Football House as GFF Assistant Women’s Football Co-ordinator.

Vero a former Interior and Abuko United FC forward holds a Bachelor of Science in Management at the University of the Gambia where she graduated in 2018. She is also a Certificate, Diploma and Advance Diploma holder in Management Studies at the MDI, a career she pursued after completing her Senior Secondary School studies.

The Abuko native was among the cohort of National U-17 Women Scorpions that represented the Gambia at its first appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s Tournament in Azerbaijan 2012. After her retirement from active football, Vero pursued Coaching Course with the Gambia Football Federation where she bagged a “D” Licensing Course while also attending Intermediate Football Coaching Clinic with the GFF and a Technical Course for Coaches organized by the GNOC Olympic Solidarity.

As part of her roles as Assistant Women’s Football Coordinator, Veronic Malack would be amongst others responsible for the co-ordination of women’s football activities across the country. She will be working with her Colleague Sainey Sissohore Mboge.

By Bakary Ceesay

 More than one hundred and fifty children between the ages of 8-14 years will converge at the independence stadium friendship hostel from November 1^st through November 3^rd to attend a 3 day volleyball camp organized under The Gambia Volleyball Federation (GVBF) with full financial and material support from Moobeta Foundation and Kevoc Volleyball club in Belgium with eight volleyball trainers from Belgium to conduct the training with support from local coaches from the Gambia.

The training will attract seven volleyball development centers across the Gambia with Farafenni, Banjul, Brikama and Serekunda East from the Dream Project whiles Old Jeshwang, Kassa Kunda and YMCA will also participate, making it the biggest ever volleyball festival in the Gambia.

This is one of the most important basic if you want to develop volleyball, the involvement of kids and mass participation says Bai Dodou Jallow President Gambia volleyball Federation.

 Jallow added: “This is also part of our efforts to regionalize volleyball in the Gambia and we believe this is the best way to start that passage’ that’s why we are bringing Farafenni in North Bank and Kassa Kunda in Kombo Central”

He explained that the objective of any Gambia Volleyball Federation development activity is to ultimately improve the volleyball experience of those who wish to play the game and promote it. Building the skills and capacities of the individuals responsible for providing this volleyball experience is therefore key to this objective.

GVBF development programmes cover a wide array of initiatives – from courses to build the skills of referees and coaches locally to the support of promotional activities to raise the profile of the game while enticing young people to play volleyball, Jallow stated.

By Bakary Ceesay

As preparations intensify for the Scorpions ahead of the Gambia’s first and away leg to Angola in the start of Qualifiers for the Afcon 2021, the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has announced an inclusion of a new Team Doctor and Physio that would now be working with the Senior National Team (Scorpions ) henceforth.

Tom Mertens 38 a Belgian national is the new Scorpions physiotherapist. Mertens is a Master in Science who specialized in manual therapy and sports physio. He worked for seven (7) years for the Belgian FA and has worked for more than ten years at the Belgian Olympic Committee as Physio of the National Hockey team; current World Cup Champions. He attended two Olympic Games; London 2012 and Rio 2016.

The Federation has further announced that the Scorpions will now have in their ranks a new Doctor in the person of  Dr. Landing Jarju who works at the Internal Medicine Department of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul. Dr. Jarju 30 is a young Gambian Medical Officer with a very good track record. He was formerly with the Home Based National Team (CHAN) that participated at the recently ended WAFU Cup of Nations 2019 in Thies.

The two new inclusions Mertens and Dr. Jarju will begin work with the Scorpions when the Gambia plays away to Angola in Luanda on the 13th November, 2019 at the start and first leg of the Scorpions Group D Afcon Qualifiers.

The new change is geared towards the Federation’s quest to comply with CAF’s demand to having qualified medical practitioners with the National teams

This new development follows the appointment of Mr Alagi Sarr as Assistant Coach to Tom Saintfiet.

The Gambia Football Federation and Africell Company Limited on Tuesday 29th October, 2019 formerly launched a partnership deal for the sponsorship of the Super Nawettan (Zonals) Football Championship for the next three years. The event took place at Africell Head Office along Kairaba Avenue where the GSM giants unveiled the annual package for each edition of the next three tournaments.

Amongst others, Africell will provide a giant trophy for the winners, two sets of jerseys as well as D10, 000:00 for each participating zone, medals, administrative cost for the Organizing Committee and talk time credit for each registered player.

At the presentation of the items held on Tuesday, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs and Media Consultant, Musa Sise said the Gambia’s biggest mobile network is always pleased to partner with The Gambia Football Federation. “Africell and GFF have inked another partnership where we will sponsor the Super Nawettan 2019 and our sponsorship package will be three years,” he disclosed. Sise stated that as sponsors, Africell will provide the following:

1. Two sets of jerseys for each team and D10,000:00 as preparatory fund
2. Winners D200,000:00
3. Runners Up D100,000:00
4. 3rd Place Winners D50,000:00
5. Medals and Trophies
6. Organizing Committee D100,000:00 for admin cost
7. Credit for each registered player D100:00
8. Credit bonus for each registered player D100:00

Sise said the 2019 edition of the Super Nawettan will be the beginning of a three-year deal with the Federation where Africell will bankroll the running of “the most watched local football“. He said the Company has an excellent relationship with the GFF and for the interest of paying back to football and Gambian youths, Africell decides to come on board and hold onto its social cooperate responsibility. “Africell is not only about telecommunication but also about people and grassroots,” he further noted.

The Super Nawettan Organizing Committee Chairman Rtd. General Lang Tombong Tamba speaking on behalf of the GFF President commended Africell for the sponsorship.

He described Africell as the biggest GSM company and thus continue to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. General Tamba, who also doubles as the Third Vice President of the GFF, promised a fair and entertaining tournament.

“Hardly have you seen such a competition with a huge investment price tag like this. Africell have always been in the forefront and I am highly convinced that this is a company that deserves the support of every Gambian,” he affirmed.

General Tamba said GFF and Africell have a long standing partnership dating back many years ago in football organization. He lauded the contribution of Africell in Gambian sports as large and praised the Company for always supporting football. “I can assure you that the Executive Committee of The Gambia Football Federation under the leadership of Lamin Kaba Bajo will continue to partner and work with Africell for the development of football in this country,” he noted.

Speaking on behalf of the zones, Badi Faye of Serekunda East described the gesture as incredible. “Every youth in this country is directly or indirectly benefiting from Africell.” He assured the sponsors and organizers of a violent free and entertaining tournament.

The tournament will kick off on Saturday 2nd November, 2019 with Serekunda East and Bakau opening the curtains at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.